by Diana Orgain
Cooper was behind me in line and I was grateful for small mercies, because he seemed to be emptying the chafing dishes onto his plate. “Man! I love these morcillas!” he said.
Todd, who was behind Cooper, replied with. “I’d like to try one, too, if you’d leave any.”
“She’ll bring out more. Just tell the senora,” Cooper said. Then he flagged her down and gave her a winning smile. “Beautiful lady! Bring more food for my friend. He’s hungry!”
The woman practically purred at Cooper, “Sí, sí,” she said, scurrying back to the kitchen. Woman were putty in his hands, it didn’t matter if they were eighteen or eighty-one or right in between.
Up close, I noticed Cooper’s eyes were bloodshot. “How late did you stay out partying, Coop?”
“Not late.” He laughed. “Two A.M. ain’t late, is it? Heck, baby girl. This is a competition. I gotta stay sharp.” He gave me a lopsided smile.
“Did you come back to the hotel with Miguel?” I asked.
Todd poked Cooper to move along in the line, which of course prodded me to move on, too.
Why didn’t Todd want me to talk to Cooper? He was definitely hiding something; either that or he was trying to protect Cooper.
I let Cooper go ahead of me in line and waited for Todd. “How about you? What time did you get in?”
Todd frowned. “I already told it all to the sargento.”
“Sergio? I don’t think he’s a sergeant.”
Todd waved a hand, dismissing me and my comment. Man, sometimes I hated that guy.
I move ahead of him in line and grabbed the pair of tongs that was placed in front of the pork chops smothered in white wine sauce. I plucked the last pork chop off the chafing dish.
Todd let out a growl as if I’d shot him.
I hovered the pork chop over his plate. “If you want the last chop, tell me what time you got in last night and who you were with.”
Todd pursed his lips at me and eyed the pork chop. “If you must know, pork isn’t my favorite.”
I motioned to slid it on my plate.
“But, I do like the way the senora cooks it.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What time did you get back to the B&B?”
Todd sighed. “I never left. Cooper was with Double D. It gets boring after a while to watch everyone fawn all over him. So I stayed in. Just me and the tele. Satisfied?”
“Very,” I said, dropping the chop onto my plate and turning away from him.
Home alone. He had no alibi.
Twenty
We’d been given limited information, but I happened to glimpse the crew loading race bikes into a nearby truck, so I gathered we were off to a bike race.
Dad and I were first on the bus, and in a hushed whisper he said to me. “Bike riding, then something to do with sheep.”
“Sheep? Fortunately I didn’t see them load any sheep onto the bus!” I joked. “Although I wouldn’t put it past Cheryl.”
“Well, you know, Spain has a lot of sheep,” Dad said. “I think they’re going to make us milk them or something. Should be a piece of cake.”
I laughed, imagining Double D milking sheep. “The girls aren’t going to like that. It’ll be smelly and messy.”
Dad gave me a big grin. “It’s a perfect match for me.”
It was true. Dad had hurt his knee about a year ago and the doctor had prescribed long bike rides for him. He loved tooling around Cottonwood on his bike and, of course, being a farmer all his life, he loved anything to do with farm animals.
“It seems like Cheryl rigged this challenge for you,” I teased.
DeeCee and Daisy took the seat behind Dad and me. They were followed by Cooper and Todd. The bus seemed empty without Victoria and Parker.
I’d been so suspicious of Victoria. But she was on a flight back to the U.S. around the time Miguel died, so she obviously didn’t have anything to do with his death. But what about Annalise?
If the deaths were connected, then the answer was no. And I couldn’t see Sergio giving the go-ahead for Victoria to leave the country if she was a serious suspect.
But then Sergio only had one serious suspect, Scott, and Montserrat was convinced it was me.
The crew usually took another bus, but since the cast was dwindling they boarded with us along with their camera equipment and microphones. The only ones not on the bus were Cheryl, Becca, and Harris. They sped off in a yellow convertible SEAT Roadster. It must have been in Harris’s contract.
The bus’s engine roared to life and we left the B&B behind in a plume of exhaust.
• • •
We drove through the Pyrenees foothills, the rolling Spanish countryside taking my breath away. The golden hills were beginning to turn green under the late-spring sun and wild poppies were in bloom.
Dad leaned into me. “Spain reminds me a lot of California.”
I laughed. “I thought it was just me. I feel so at home here, the people are all so nice—”
“And the food,” Dad said.
“And the wine.”
Dad smiled. “I could live here.”
“Me, too.”
Forty-five minutes later, the bus pulled into a meadow clearing, behind the yellow SEAT. We tumbled out of the bus as some of the crew began to set up the familiar blue tarp. The rest of the crew began to unload the bikes from the small truck that had followed our bus into the mountains. The cast reported to the starting line without being told what we needed to do. We all knew the drill by now.
Harris preened like a peacock, then suddenly became flustered and looked around. “Where’s my stylist?”
Kyle popped out from behind a camera. “Oh! I’m over here.” He shoved the camera at me and ran over to get his makeup kit.
Cheryl made exasperated noises as we all waited. Finally, she motioned over to Double D’s cameraman. “You, take advantage of the scenery to get a confessional.”
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE DAY
DeeCee is looking into the camera, her face is jovial, her fire red-hair fanned around her face. She is dressed in a bright maroon top that shows off her cleavage. She adjusts her hair and poses as if getting ready for the camera to roll, not realizing that she is being filmed.
CAMERAMAN (O.S.)
Rolling.
DEECEE
(straightens to attention) Oh! (waves at the camera) Hello, America! I’m DeeCee Duluth, part of the Double D team. I’m here with my darling friend Daisy competing on Expedition Improbable. I have to say, this has been an amazing trip. I’ve learned so much about the culture and the music here . . . the music . . . why, if you don’t know, America, I’m a country-western singer.
(She belts out a lyric from “Blue Moon of Kentucky.”)
(Daisy bounces into the frame and harmonizes with her.)
DAISY
(covering one ear) Oh, girl, you got a little pitchy.
DEECEE
(looking offended) I did not.
DAISY
Don’t get upset. I’m just sayin’.
DEECEE
(placing a hand on her hip) Well, I’m just sayin’ I didn’t!
DAISY
(placing a hand on her hip to match DeeCee’s stance) I’m not going to have this argument with you again! (through gritted teeth) And not in front of the camera! (Turning to the camera, she smiles widely.)
(DeeCee harrumphs and stalks off.)
• • •
We lined up in front of Harris.
“Wait a minute,” Kyle said as he fumbled with the camera. “This one’s different than the one I used to work with.” He said something in a hushed tone to the cameraman near him, who answered him back in an equally hushed tone.
Cheryl lost her patience. “Remind me to fire you all after the show!”
“You can fire me now if you like,” I s
aid.
Dad elbowed me, and Cheryl said, “Shut up, Georgia.”
When Kyle seemed to straighten himself out he gave Cheryl a nod and then Harris exploded into action. “Welcome to round three of Expedition Improbable! Where nothing can stop you but yourself!” He gave a cursory recap of yesterday’s events for the benefit of the viewing audience, then said, “Cooper and Todd, you’ve managed to finish in first place on the last two competitions, but will you keep your edge today?”
“You better believe it,” Cooper said in an overly positive booming voice.
“I hope so,” Todd muttered.
Harris clasped his hands in front of his chest. “Well, remember we have to expect the unexpected. There’s plenty of opportunity for anyone who wants to win to make a play for it. And now, since Cooper and Todd finished the last round thirty minutes ahead, you may begin in just a few moments.”
“As you can see,” Harris continued. “Today’s challenge involves cycling. These are the famous hills where Miguel Indurain trained for the Tour de France.”
DeeCee gasped and covered her mouth at the same time that Daisy gave a childish clap.
“Poor Miguel!” DeeCee said, looking forlorn.
“We’re in France!” Daisy squealed.
“Different Miguel,” I said.
“I’ve always wanted to visit France,” Daisy said, giving a little hop. “And now I’m here. I’m finally here. Can we see the Eiffel tower?”
“We’re not in France,” Dad said.
DeeCee and Daisy both looked confused and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Keep rolling,” Cheryl said. “I’ll have to splice in images of Cooper’s muscular booty on that tiny bike seat to make up for these morons here.”
Dad grumbled.
“Not you, Gordon,” Cheryl assured him.
“Today will be a rigorous physical challenge for you all,” Harris continued. “Followed by a surprise challenge. You’ll all be given bikes and you have to navigate the mountain trails on your own. You’ll be equipped with maps that will direct you on a treasure hunt, and the buried treasure will give you a clue for the final challenge.”
As soon as Harris finished the introduction he raised his hands for Cooper and Todd to get started. They dashed off toward the bicycles followed by their cameraman.
After waiting the specified time, Double D began the challenge. DeeCee and Daisy only had a few minutes advantage over us, but it looked like they fully intended to use it. They strapped on their helmets and rushed off, ditching their cameraman.
Finally, Dad and I were allowed to begin. We rushed over to where the bikes were parked. Dad reviewed the map while I clipped on my helmet.
My ankle was throbbing just from the short jog to the bikes and I prayed it wouldn’t hold us back in this competition. The sun was high in the sky, the hottest part of the day and I had already broken a sweat before I’d even mounted the bike.
Dad was in deep conversation with himself over the map. I hopped onto the bike and pedaled toward the dirt trail.
“Wait! I’m not even sure that’s the right direction,” Dad yelled.
“I’m following Cooper and Todd,” I declared.
Dad and Kyle had a brief exchange and then I watched Dad pedal off in my direction without Kyle. Dad soon caught up with me.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“He said he’d rather film DeeCee and Daisy.”
“What?” I demanded.
Dad laughed. “I’m kidding. He said they can’t film and cycle at the same time. So all the cameras are going to head up the road in the bus.”
“Cheryl’s not letting him near that yellow convertible, is she?”
Dad chuckled. “I don’t even think she’ll let me near the convertible. Anyway, each cameraman will be stationed at different spots along the way. Getting us at a distance and all that. He told me to tell you to be good and to save the drama for the camera.”
We rode along in silence for a while, until we caught sight of Double D.
“Let’s pass them,” Dad said.
We pedaled furiously up the hill, DeeCee and Daisy both had their pretty heads down, going as fast as they could muster. They looked miserable and I could sympathize completely. Biking seemed to inflame my ankle and soon after we passed them, I said, “I’m hurting, Dad.”
He made a sad face. I knew it was almost unbearable for him to see me in pain, so I tried not to complain too heartily.
“I’d ride for you if I could,” he said.
“I’ll be okay, Dad.” A few more minutes of riding yielded us a view of two cyclers. “I think that’s Cooper and Todd ahead of us.”
Dad laughed. “Aha! They must have made a bad turn! See, we gotta watch the map.”
We joined Cooper and Todd up ahead. Todd scowled at me, but Cooper was his usual friendly self.
We pedaled together up the hill; it was a slow, steady incline, the kind that absolutely kills your thighs and calves.
Double D caught up with us, bringing up the rear. It was soon clear that Dad and Cooper were more used to biking than the rest of us as the distance between us grew. Todd overtook me, but I followed him closely. I was content to let him take the lead. It was early still and if I knew the producers, which I did, this was going to be a long bike ride full of twists and turns.
We came to a fork in the road. Two cameramen were stationed there, the crew bus parked nearby. Kyle was hidden behind the camera, although I’d recognize him anywhere with his flamboyant style of dress and fluorescent shoes.
Dad and Cooper stopped to consult the map between them, but Daisy sped past laughing. “I’m choosing the high road, y’all.”
Todd and I joined Dad and Cooper.
“Where the heck do you think she’s going?” Cooper asked. “It looks pretty clear to me that we need to take the low road.”
“We go into the valley?” I asked.
Dad nodded. “I think so.”
I glanced at Kyle for information, but only the wide camera lens greeted me. I suddenly missed Miguel. DeeCee peeked over the ridge just as we were heading past the crew bus and selecting the low road.
“Where’s Daisy?” she asked. “Is she already ahead of you?”
“She’s ahead of us all right,” Dad said. “But she went that way.”
“What?” DeeCee demanded.
Cooper shrugged. “Marches to the beat of her own drum.”
“Which way are we supposed to go?” DeeCee asked.
Dad took off down the low road, kicking off with a powerful stride. Then called over his shoulder, “You have to decide on your own.”
I followed Dad, then Cooper and Todd trailed me. DeeCee remained indecisive until she finally screamed loudly and took off after us. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth and not trying to derail me?” DeeCee shrieked.
Todd snorted. “Okay, we’re kidding, she’s just up ahead here.”
“I knew it!” DeeCee screamed, pedaling furiously as she passed us.
Dad and Cooper shared a guffaw, while Todd mumbled something.
“She’ll figure it out soon enough,” Dad said.
“I should help them though,” Cooper said to Dad. “I’d rather you and Georgia be eliminated first and keep those two hot babes in, honestly. No offense.”
Todd laughed. “You got that right.”
“No offense taken,” Dad said. “Georgia and I feel the same about you.”
The road plateaued into a valley. I could see more of the crew stationed ahead in a meadow along with a smattering of white sheep. In the middle of the meadow was our makeshift post. The flag with the show’s bull’s-eye emblem was billowing in the breeze.
I motioned up ahead. “I think you got the directions right, Dad.”
DeeCee sighed. “Oh, well, I gue
ss Daisy will figure it out eventually. Don’t you think?”
Dad nodded. “She’ll figure it out.”
We all jumped off our bikes, leaving them on the dirt trail to run toward the post. As soon as I got off the bike, my knees buckled and I fell to the ground.
Dad stopped next to me. “Georgia! What is it?”
My ankle had swollen to the size of large catcher’s mitt. “Go on ahead without me, Dad. I just need a minute. Get the clue.”
Dad nodded and ran to join Cooper, Todd, and DeeCee. In the distance, I could see Daisy pedaling furiously down the lane. She’d finally figured out she’d gone in the wrong direction.
She collapsed next to me screaming and howling in obvious pain. Her mascara had run down her face and her hair was wild. The camera crew descended upon us like locusts.
“What is it, Daisy?” I asked.
“Georgia, Georgia,” she wailed.
“Are you all right? What’s happened?”
She leaned into me crying. “Georgia, I can’t take it.”
I patted her back. “Tell me. What’s happened? Did you see something that frightened you?”
She sucked in a huge intake of breath. DeeCee barreled down the hill toward us with Dad right behind her.
“Daisy!” DeeCee cried. “What on God’s green earth is going on?”
“I never wanted to ride the stupid bike,” Daisy wailed. “And now I can’t walk, my bottom is all bruised up and my legs have cramps.”
Dad bit back his laughter.
“Oh, grow up!” DeeCee said.
“I only wanted to sing, Georgia. That’s all. I never wanted to have to go on these crazy trips.”
Todd and Cooper ignored our drama and headed in the opposite direction toward the sheep.
“Well, that’s a fine how-do-you-do!” DeeCee said. “The show was your bright idea!”
“Look at me!” Daisy said. “I’m a mess! How am I supposed to score a Nashville contract looking like this?”
“She’s really not going to like the next part,” Dad said.
Daisy’s eyes rounded and she looked horrified. “What’s the next part?”
“We need to get some milk, before we get the next clue,” DeeCee said.